Heart Language

Christians use the word all the time, but do we really know what it means?

You’ve probably heard the term “Christianese” before. It’s a tongue-in-cheek name for the insider vocabulary we use as churchgoers—jargon that often leaves outsiders mystified as to what we’re talking about. Usually, these words and phrases in and of themselves are positive. They often originate from Scripture, and even when they don’t, their actual meanings may be of great substance. However, the terms that make up “Christianese” have been used so frequently that they’re sometimes in danger of losing their original impact. When that happens, they may no longer communicate their true essence.

In any language, words are the basic tool for transmitting a message from one person to another. For this reason, they are also a gift from God to humankind. While He isn’t limited to communicating by means of words alone, Scripture clearly shows how important they are to Him. That our Creator chooses to speak to us in our language is powerful evidence of His desire for relationship.

And so, when we use scriptural language, it’s important to think about what we’re really communicating and embrace the power of our words’ actual meaning. In this new ongoing column, we hope to reclaim the heart of our Christian vocabulary, which holds such life-giving potential.